[rider93hawg]

Hello, 2003 Element EX runs great 95% of the time. Every so often I will be driving along and without warning it will feel like you are going over those rumble wake up strips that are on the side of the interstate. This might last 2-5 seconds then quit. It is starting to occur more often. Any ideas on what is causing this would be great. Really notice it when driving around 30-35MPH because that is all the faster my wife will let me go since it is her rig. Thanks.

 

[rider93hawg]

Yes it is AWD and it does also make the rubbing type sound when the wheels are turned. I did some research on this site and did see where the diff fluid needs to be changed. I just thought that turning vibration was due to tires catching the fender on tight turns so never thought twice about it. I am hoping after I changed the diff fluid my other problem will be solved as well.
Now I just have to drive the 40 miles to the stealership to pick up the fluid.
:-( Thanks!

 

[rider93hawg]

Will do. Rode the Hawg down to the big city today and picked up diff fluid. $10 and some change for one quart! Is the stealership the only place to get a rear wiper blade? I'll let you know if the fluid change solves all my vibration problems.

 

[rider93hawg]

Dual Pump II. The parts guy said I only needed one quart because I did read the excellent how to Aprillaguy wrote and it said 1.1 quart. So I told the part man that and he said I only needed to put in 1 quart because that is all they add there in the shop when they are doing a change. They probably charge for two quarts! He didn't say anything about crush washers as I thought they are reusable?

 

[rider93hawg]

Crush washer---Autozone or am I headed back to the stealer?

 

[rider93hawg]

Here's another question since you all are so helpful, (which I greatly appreciate)...Say if someone was colorblind...would Sunset Orange Pearl be considered Rust Other Type or ROT?

 

[rider93hawg]

Thanks for the washer info. In ref. to the color question...I am the one who is colorblind and it looks Rust to me or maybe it is Red or Orange? I do think it is more Orange than Red. I do know it is not Black or Blue or Yellow or Green. If it was Green then I would wonder if it is Brown.

 

[rider93hawg]

OK Thanks for the clarification. I am pretty sure it is a SOP. Good thing you said something about the sun because it does turn a whole another color when the sun hits. It is supposed to rain today and tomorrow, so it looks like Saturday will be the day for diff fluid change. Oh maybe some day when the world (or at least my world) is right, I will be able to work in my garage out of the weather. Most likely I will build another one before that happens.

 

[rider93hawg]

Hey thanks! The Labs are nuts and the Pit is as calm as can be. They ride in the truck not the E.

 

[rider93hawg]

I did check out your dog/luggage rack and it is pretty sweet. If the E was mine I would build one. Ok, back to a maintenance/performance question...Does that K & N filter make a noticeable difference? Increase or decrease mileage? I guess my bottom line question would be, is it worth it?

 

[rider93hawg]

Crush washers...Autozone said all they have is 14mm. O'Reillys guy laughed when I told him I had an E and said he doesn't have anything for it. So much for living away from crowds. The Honda-A web parts place will sell me two for .92 and they are so cool they will only charge me $10 and change to ship them to me.:-x I guess I am calling the dealer on Monday to see if they will send me a couple in the mail.

 

[rider93hawg]

Here is the latest in the Diff fluid change saga...no 20mm crush washers to be found any where in this hoe-dee-doe town I live in. I called the stealer and asked them if they would send me two if I send them the 80 cents and a SASE. I told him it seems ridiculous to me to drive 80 miles for two washers. The parts guy says sure. So, I got it all together and ran down to the PO and launched it. Should be here Thursday or Friday.

 

[rider93hawg]

I know I probably sound like I am complaining, but I only get a slight attitude about hoe-dee-doe-ville when I can't get something simple that I think
Wal-Mart, O'Reillys, or Autozone should have since those are my choices. Should of checked the farm supply, but decided to go directly to the source. I lived inner city before this and let me say I wouldn't trade the occasional inconvenience in living here to go back to the hustle & bustle of city life. Besides, with two really big lakes 20 minutes away in either direction the only way my living could be any better is to have one of them be my backyard. Hey Twilightzero! That hitch grill is pretty killer! I just showed the wife and she said you must like to tailgate quite a bit. She also thought the dog rack was a good idea, but she meant it in the sense of being a good idea for someone else!

 

[rider93hawg]

Right on as being able to live in the best of both worlds is good! Ok, back to my original concern of coming here in the first place...Just when I was about to change my tune and stop calling the H dealer the Stealer what happens??? They sent me the wrong size crush washers and STOLE my $1.24!!! :-x The old ones were still good so I used them and changed the diff fluid last Saturday. I'll get a driver's report in a couple of days to see if the sporadic vibration quit or not. HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!

 

[rider93hawg]

Hey E-222, Did changing the tranny fluid solve it? I just talked to the dealer today and he said it sounds like the ABS pump is going bad or reservoir is low on fluid causing them to activate for a few seconds and that is what causes the vibration sound. He said some models have a reservoir for the brakes and separate one for ABS. I looked in the manual and it sure did not say anything about a separate reservoir. If anyone knows anything about ABS problems/cures then I am all ears. If I don't figure this out before Wednesday then Friday it is 40 miles to pay the stealer $80 an hour...OUCH!

 

[rider93hawg]

Changing the Diff. fluid solved the tight corner turn vibration just liked everyone said it would. Will check tire pressure as that sure sounds logical. Tires are relatively new (6 months) so was not concerned about the pressure yet. I guess I should be. Thanks.

 

[rider93hawg]

Tire pressure was all good so it wasn't that. I am starting to think it might be the ABS module. Can I hit it with a hammer to fix it?

 

[rider93hawg]

Right on about the change tranny fluid! Funny, when I asked the stealer if it could be something like he said no. I read in the manual to use Honda brand or Dexron III in a pinch. Well, should I just wait to get the official H fluid or just use Dexron III? I am going to do it today if I can or wait till tomorrow and drive the 40 miles to the stealer if it does make a real difference to use the official brand. The manual also says when doing a tranny fluid change to flush and fill it 3 times??? Sounds like a money maker to me. Any ideas about that? Brake reservoir is full and the vibrate does not last long enough to do much of anything. Out of no where and then 3 seconds or so it is gone. Thanks.

 

[rider93hawg]

Ok very cool as I am going to trek into the big city today and go see the stealer for some tranny fluid. I read the how to change tranny fluid write up which is excellent so should not be a problem. Thanks.

 

[rider93hawg]

Well, I decided since it just past 100K on the mileage I should just have the tranny flushed any way. I let the stealer do it as I decided an hour of my time sitting there drinking coffee was worth the extra $70 versus all day of getting out and under the thing to fill/drain. No vibration in the 50 or so miles I drove it home. The real test will be the fact that I don't hear any thing about it from the wife after she drives it all week. I'll let you all know.